javascript: getting the value of variables inside a callback function

Question

Im using google geocoder and I cant seem to find a way to set the value of the global variable inside the callback function

var status_temp;
var lat_temp;
var lng_temp;
var error_temp;
function set_status(status_input){
    status_temp=status_input;
}
function set_lat(lat_input){
    lat_temp=lat_input;
}
function set_lng(lng_input){
    lng_temp=lng_input;
}
function set_error(error_input){
    error_temp=error_input;
}
function geocode_address(address_input){
    var status_string;
    var error_message;
    var lat;
    var lng;
    geocoder.geocode( { 'address': address_input}, function(results, status){
        if (status == google.maps.GeocoderStatus.OK) {
            set_status('found');
            set_lat(results[0].geometry.location.lat());
            set_lng(results[0].geometry.location.lng());
        } else {
            console.log("Geocode was not successful for the following reason: " + status);
            set_status('notfound');
            set_status(status);
        }
    });
    console.log(status_temp);
    if(status_temp==='found'){
        var data = ({
            status_string:status_temp,
            lat:lat_temp,
            lng:lng_temp,
        });
    }else{
        var data = ({
            status_string:status_temp,
            error_string:error_temp,
        });
    }
    return data;
}

I tried doing the normal way to set global variables which is declaring the variable outside the function, this latest one ive tried is using functions to set variables. what am i doing wrong?

Answer 1

You need to read about asynchronous javascript calls.
You are attempting to use the globals when they havent been set yet.
Your function cannot just return, it needs to use a callback to return the values, and the callback needs to be called from inside the geocode callback
note that your question title says "inside a callback" but you are not doing the console log from inside, its currently from outside.